Evolution and the Challenges of Modern Life | Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying | EP 216

Hypernovelty

Navigating the rapid changes in modern society is a central theme in Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying's discussion. They emphasize that while we cannot return to the past, we must carefully select which aspects of our heritage to preserve and which to discard. Jordan Peterson adds that the overwhelming pace of technological change makes it difficult to maintain our humanity. 1 2

The amazing rate of change that we ourselves have created is itself deranging us and making it very difficult to understand how to be human and how to remember how to be human.

--- Heather Heying

The flexibility of humans, while remarkable, is not sufficient to keep up with the rate of change, leading to a sense of alienation and disorientation.

   

Consequences

The unintended consequences of rapid progress are another critical issue. Jordan Peterson points out that our prefrontal cortex allows us to abstract and assess potential actions, but this process is fraught with risks in a rapidly changing world. 3 4

The amazing rate of change that we ourselves have created is itself deranging us, making it very difficult to understand how to be human and how to remember how to be human.

--- Bret Weinstein

Weinstein and Heying highlight how modern conveniences, like gadgets emitting blue light, disrupt our natural sleep patterns, illustrating the complex trade-offs of technological advancements.

   

Social Media

The hazards of social media, particularly Twitter, are also discussed. Heather Heying notes that while the platform allows for unprecedented communication, it also fosters psychological instability and a lack of genuine human interaction. 5

We have no idea what the combination of 140 character limit, no censorship or social scrutiny at the moment, does to the emotions we're likely to manifest when we communicate in that manner.

--- Jordan Peterson

This uncertainty about the effects of social media underscores the broader theme of unintended consequences in our hypernovel world.